Posts Tagged ‘Hongcun’

Hongcun Village is located at the foot of the southwest side of Mt. Huangshan, only 11kms away from Yixian town, 60km west of Tunxi Huangshan.

The whole village is like a buffalo lying on its side surrounded by green hills and blue water with dwelling houses its “body”, South Lake its “belly”, Moon Pool its “stomach”, Leigang Hill the “head”, two huge trees the “horns”, a winding stream as the “intestines” and the four bridges as the “four feet”.

Hongcun Village is typical of Huizhou Dwellings, one of the vernacular dwellings in China, which are adapted to the characters of hills and waters there and gave full play to them. Hongcun Village is a village of rivers and lakes, like a Chinese paintingscroll rolling before you.

The village now boasts 158 dwelling houses dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, nearly 140 are still in good shape. Hongcun Village was added to the list of the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in late 2000.

Follow me to explore Hongcun Village.

Hongcun Village with hills behind and water in front.

Hongcun is located northward against Leigang Hill and south on the South Lake. The water from the South Lake is distributed through the channels to each household in the village.

Hongcun Village with hills behind and water in front.

Like a Chinese painting scroll rolling before you.

Like a Chinese painting scroll rolling before you.

Fine art students sketching and painting

Fine art students sketching and painting

It’s amazing! Shoot and take it home!

It’s amazing! Shoot and take it home!

Entering the village.

The village now boasts 158 dwelling houses dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Enter the village along the bridge.

Still fascinated by the unique structure of the village with streamlets distributed into the village from South Lake.

Still fascinated the unique structure of the village with streamlets distributed into the village.

This family is selling fruits and local snacks.

This family is selling fruits and local snacks.

South Lake Academy (南胡书院)

Also called Yiwen Private School with an area of 6600 square meters. It was built in Jiaqing era of Qing Dynasty (1814).

The general channels are 60cm and one meter deep, crossing circuitously through the lanes of the villages from the northwestward to southeastward extending in all directions.

In every dooryard flows a limpid streamlet. Like a blood circulatory system, the channel system stimulates the spiritual and material life of the village.

The channel system plays of the role of washing, fire protection, drainage and adjustment of temperature.

Water Channels in the village

All the streamlets flowing through the channels finally converge on a pond – Moon Pond (月沼) at the center of the village.

Washing by the Moon Pool

Washing by the Moon Pool

Taking wedding photos by the Moon Pool

Wedding photo taking by the Moon Pool

Huizhou Style Dwellings by the Moon Pool

Huizhou Style Dwellings by the Moon Pool

People, houses, ducks and the pool

People, houses, ducks and the pool

Hills, houses and the Moon Pool

Hills, houses and the Moon Pool

Chengzhi Hall (承志堂)

Built in the fifth year of Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1855), it covers an area of 2,110 square meters. The main hall is in front and at the back is built with two-storey-bat structure. It consists of a study, shrine, pond, garden, a kitchen, a well and 28 rooms.

The exquisite carving, red columns and golden painted beams make it known as ” a forbidden city in the countryside”.

A narrow lane leading to Chengzhi Hall

A narrow lane leading to Chengzhi Hall

Inside the main gate

Inside the main gate

The two story building at the back

The two story building at the back

Chengzhi Hall

Chengzhi Hall

Exquisitely carved window

Exquisitely carved window

Exquisitely carved columns and beams

Exquisitely carved columns and beams

Bye, Hongcun!

Bye, Hongcun!

Tip: Hassle-free Huangshan Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Huangshan Guided Tours: